Riding-saddle



(No Model.)

' F. A. HAKE.

RIDING SADDLE. No. 344,828. Patented July 6, 1886.

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FRANCIS A. IIAKE,

OF OUERO, TEXAS.

RIDING-SADDLE.

LJI';ECE1FIG TION forming part of Letters Patent No. 34%,828, dated July 6, 1886.

Application filed Novembcr23, 1885. Serial No. 183,633. (No model.)

$ aZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, FRANCIS A. HAKE, of Cuero, in the county of De XVitt and State of Texas, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Saddles, which improven'lent is fully set forth in the following specification and accompanying drawings, in which-- Figure 1 is a perspective view, with the covering partly cut away, of my improved saddle; and Fig. 2 a sectional view of the same.

Heretofore saddles have been formed with a leather strainer-piece extending over the central opening of the saddle-tree and secured around its edges by means of tacks, and outwardly therefrom a tin plate or casting, also secured in position by tacks; but these features are open to various objections,inasmuch as the metal of the tacks, plates, or castings becomes rusted, thus destroying the leather,

or pull out sooner or later, effecting the same purpose. In addition to these features the strainer formed by the leather piece and metal plate stretches sooner or later, forming a depression over the central opening of the saddle-tree between the side bars, so as to rest on the animals back, thus making it sore, and at the same time the inner edges of the side bars become exposed by the depression of the strainer, so as to make a hard and uncomfortable seat. In lieu of these features I provide a flexible or elastic seat, consisting of a number of thicknesses of tanned sheepskin, with the wool on, between the saddle-tree covering and the ordinary external rawhide or other covering, thus preventing the said covering from resting on the inner edges of the saddle-tree side bars, which forms a comfortable and easy saddle; and, in addition to this, my invention relates to the opening rearwardly and laterally in the saddle-tree for attaching the girthrigging thereto, in place of the ordinary rings nailed into position, by means of straps, used in some cases, and liable to become detached, thus releasing the girth, and a single central opening in the saddle-tree in other cases, all of which will now be set forth in detail.

In the accompanying drawings, A represents an ordinary saddle-tree provided centrally with the usual longitudinal opening, 13, and having the usual rawhide or other covering, 0, beneath. This may extend up over the inner part of the opposite side bars, and

thence extend downwardly and outwardly,D,

bar, E. Upon the upper surface of each of these side bars, E, I provide a double thickness of tanned sheepskin, F, with the wool sides adjoining, preferably, and in close contact. The sheepskin is thus arranged so as to be directly or intermediately interposed between the side .bar and the seat covering. Each of these pieces F is designed to extend in wardly only as far as the inner edge of the side bars, so as to leave an opening, 13, between, as shown in Fig. 2. These pieces or sections F may be secured in position, preferably by sewing them to the side-bar covering, but it is obvious that they may be secured otherwise, if so desired. Over these pieces or sections F,I stretch a covering, G, extending partially down the side bars, E, about the point, as indicated bythe letter H, and secure it in position. Outwardly from this covering I provide an external covering, I, extending entirely across the saddle and secured oppositely beneath the lower edges of the side bars to the covering 0, as shown at J. It is obvious that one, two, or more of these pieces or sections F may be used to produce the desired effect-namely, an easy-riding saddle. It is also obvious that in place of the sheepskinsections, other material-such as rubber or felt-may be used in lieu thereof, so as to raise the central part of the seat entirely above the side bars. Rearwardly, at the lower part of the tree A, I provide openings K, for the reception of the flank-girth, the use of which is obvious in the class of saddles described. These are, in addition to the openings L, forwardly at the sides of the tree, as shown in Fig. 1.

What I claim as new is- 1. In asaddle, the opposite side bars of the saddle-tree provided with sheepskin-sections interposed between the inner covering of the side bars and the outer saddle-covering, so as to act as a spring, substantially as herein set forth.

2. The combination, in a saddle, of the sidebar covering 0, having the outer covering, I, attached thereto beneath the lower edge of the side bars, and interposed between them sheepskin-sections F, so as to form a flexible and easy seat, substantially as herein set forth.

3. The combination of the saddle-tree A,

having laterally the side bars, E, provided with the covering 0, and outwardly the covering I, and interposed between them the sheepskin-sections F, so as to form a flexible 5 seat, substantially as herein set forth. I

4. The combination of the saddle-tree A, having the covering 0, G, and I, and theseotions F, interposed between, with the flankgirth openings K, for securing the saddle in 10 position, the whole arranged as and for the purpose substantially as herein set forth and described.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing I F. A. HAKE.

Witnesses:

EDUARD GURNEY, WM. J. STURTZ. 

